The experienced performer

“This will be Emmanuel's seventh successive London Marathon, making him the most experienced of the contenders for this year's race. His record is one win, two seconds, two fourths and a seventh in 2012, which came after a bout of tyhoid.

“He showed his talent when setting the course record in 2011 by making a dynamic break in the middle of the race.

“I thought two or three years ago he might have peaked, but by finishing second in London last year and setting a PB to finish second in Chicago, he proved he’s running better than ever.”

The faster ever marathoner

Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai ran the fastest ever time for a marathon to win the 2011 Boston Marathon, on a course deemed illegal for record purposes. Personal best: 2:03:02 (Boston, 2011).

“Geoffrey is a great hill runner and it is interesting that he has run course record times at both Boston and New York, which are both famously hilly courses.

“Yet, he also proved he can run very well on flat courses, as his 2:04:15 in Berlin showed. He could have run even faster that day, but tweaked a hamstring in the latter stages.

“The only issue for him is he has yet to prove that he can run in London. He is a proven winner with seven wins from 11 marathons. His last defeat over the distance was back in 2010.”

And another thing...

“As a 27-times world record holder, few know the benefits of a good pacemaker quite like Ethiopian demigod Haile Gebrselassie. His role as pacemaker is crucial and could ensure we are set for a classic London Marathon.

“With a big downhill stretch for the first four miles or so, we often see some crazy times set for the first portion of the race before the athletes pull back to 20km. If Haile can master the pace, we could be set for a very special race.”